JP2006168062A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to easily acquire a printed matter beside a printing apparatus without inputting the password and without being exposed to the third person's eyes even in the printing apparatus which is panel-less or shares a simple panel. <P>SOLUTION: To a host computer and the printing apparatus, host specific information, printing job specific information, effective time information and the like are read and written through a USB memory, a PC card or the like, and a waiting printing job for a host is outputted by performing a memory mounting on the printing apparatus as a trigger. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention is a print in which print job information generated by application software and device driver software in a host computer system connected in a local or network environment is recorded with image information using an electrophotographic process or an ink spraying process. The present invention relates to a printing system that transfers to an apparatus and completes a series of printing.

  Conventionally, it has been difficult to ensure the security of printed output results when an inexpensive printing apparatus is shared and used via a network environment mainly by a small group such as SOHO. Even in an environment with a small number of people, the installation distance between the individual client host computers that have performed printing and the printing apparatus shared via the network is usually somewhat apart. For this reason, while outputting a document printed by the person himself, it is extremely difficult to witness the desired printed matter in front of a printing device so that the third party cannot see it, and there is no guarantee that security can be ensured reliably. It was.

In order to solve these problems, conventionally, for example, a method of resuming printing by waiting for a print job on the host computer or printing apparatus side and inputting a preset password from the host (for example, Patent Documents) 1) or the number of minutes to be printed on the host side in advance, and when that time comes, the printer takes the output paper, or the password is entered from the printer panel. A method has been proposed.
JP-A-11-2127744

  However, in the method of inputting the password from the host, since the act of inputting the password is performed by the client computer that has instructed to print the document, the shared printing apparatus installation location that acquires the actual output result is not outputting The person cannot be present and cannot secure security. In addition, when a print server host computer locally connected to the printing apparatus is installed and a password is input, separately preparing the print server host computer itself increases the cost. In the method for specifying the time when printing is performed, it is necessary to visit the place where the printing apparatus is installed at that time. However, there is no guarantee that the document print instruction person will be present at that time, which is inconvenient. .

  On the other hand, the method of inputting the password on the panel on the printing device side is easy to input the password if the display device (LCD etc.) on the panel unit and the keys are abundant and expensive, but the recent inexpensive printing. In many cases, the device has a panelless configuration or only a small number of keys arranged only to achieve a simple function even if there is a key. In this case, in order to input a password, a complicated operation is forced on the user, and it is difficult and inconvenient to actually input the password. Further, in the above-described method, if a print job is made to wait on the printing apparatus side, a large-capacity storage device must be provided on the printing apparatus side, resulting in an increase in cost.

  There is also a method for realizing security printing by allowing a user to have a personally identifiable ID card and reading the ID card to both the host computer and the printing device. This method is an ID card connected to both the host computer and the printing device. Needless to say, this is a configuration that is more expensive and leads to increased costs, such as the need to add a reader device or the like separately, or to prepare the ID card itself.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a printing system capable of realizing inexpensive and convenient security printing.

The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above-described problems, and includes the following configuration as means for solving the above-described problems. That is,
In the print control unit for managing print jobs on the host side, based on the print job acquired from the system spool unit, when a non-volatile readable / writable storage medium is mounted while the host is powered on Means for generating a unique ID for identifying the print job;
Information that identifies the generated unique ID and the host that generated the print job included in the job being printed is written to the storage medium, the unique ID is added to the print job, and the print job is printed in a standby state. Means not to send to the device;
Means for encrypting information identifying the unique ID and the host, adding to the print job, and writing to the storage medium;
Means for explicitly specifying the storage medium from devices managed by a host computer and writing the unique ID and information identifying the host;
In the printing apparatus, the printing apparatus has an I / F that can be loaded and unwritable and readable / writable non-volatile storage medium with the power on, and when the non-volatile storage medium is mounted on the I / F, It is determined whether the unique ID or the encrypted unique ID exists, and the identified host is based on information identifying the host corresponding to the unique ID stored in the non-volatile storage medium when it exists. A means for notifying that the non-volatile storage medium is attached to the printing apparatus and sending the unique ID;
In the printing apparatus, when a unique ID for identifying the job is added to the print job received after sending the unique ID to the host, the unique ID is temporarily reserved and after the printing of the print job is completed, The unique ID sent to the host is compared with the unique ID temporarily secured from the print job, and when the two match, the host corresponding to the unique ID stored in the nonvolatile storage medium attached to the printing apparatus is specified. Means for deleting information to be
When the print control unit for managing the print job on the host side detects that the nonvolatile storage medium from the printing apparatus is mounted and acquires the unique ID sent from the printing apparatus, the host Is compared with the unique ID added to the print job stored in the standby state, and if the unique IDs match, the print job is sent to the printing apparatus to perform printing. Means for deleting, and further,
In the print control unit on the host side, means for writing the time information acquired from the host system and the print effective time information included in the print job to the removable storage medium;
In the printing apparatus, the unique ID is sent to the host that has generated the print job, and the time information stored in the attached nonvolatile storage medium and the print valid time information are sent.
In the printing apparatus, after sending the time information and the print valid time information, when receiving a notification of deleting the sent unique ID from the destination host, it is stored in a nonvolatile storage medium attached to the printing apparatus. Means for deleting the unique ID and host identification information corresponding to the unique ID, time information, and print valid time information;
When the unique ID acquired from the printing device matches in the print control unit on the host side, the time information and the print effective time information are acquired from the printing device, and the print effective time obtained by adding the print effective time information to the time information. Means for calculating information and obtaining the current time from the host system;
In the print control unit on the host side, the calculated print effective time information is compared with the current time acquired from the host system, and if the print effective time information exceeds the current time, the acquired Notifying the printing apparatus to delete the unique ID and information corresponding to the unique ID from the non-volatile storage medium attached to the printing apparatus, and printing a standby print job at the host corresponding to the acquired unique ID. A means for deleting is provided.

  In more detail, the present invention can solve the above problems by the following configuration.

  (1) The host computer system has means for generating a print job based on a drawing command from application software and transferring the generated print job to the printing apparatus. The printing apparatus receives a print job from the host computer system. Is temporarily stored in a storage area in the printing apparatus, and thereafter, the image information generated based on the print job is output to an engine controller in the printing apparatus. The printing system includes a host When a non-volatile storage medium that is detachable and readable / writable with the host powered on is installed in the print control unit for managing the print job on the side, based on the print job acquired from the system spool unit , A unique ID that identifies the print job Information for specifying the generated unique ID and the host that generated the print job included in the job being printed is written to the storage medium, and the unique ID is added to the print job. Is not sent to the printing apparatus in a standby state.

  According to the present invention, even when an inexpensive printing device is shared in a network environment, an expensive accessory device is not required, and a password can be input from a dialog of a client computer or a panel of the printing device. In addition, since a desired printing result (output paper) can be easily obtained at the installation location of the printing apparatus, inexpensive and convenient security printing can be realized.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Configuration of printing device]
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing the configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As an example, the case of a monochrome laser beam printer is shown. Note that the printing apparatus to which this embodiment is applied is not limited to a monochrome laser beam printer, but may be a color laser beam printer, or may be a printer of another printing method such as an ink jet printer without being limited to a laser beam printer. Needless to say. The configuration and operation will be described below.

  The laser beam printer main body 100 is connected to a host device such as a host computer system and is based on drawing data such as control codes, character codes, graphic data, bitmap data, or page size bitmap data sent from the host computer. Print. The operation panel 101 may be provided with a switch (key), an LED display, and an LCD display for simple operation. However, in recent inexpensive printing apparatuses, the operation panel 101 is a host device such as a host computer system. In many cases, environment settings are performed, and the laser beam printer main body 100 is not essential.

  The printer controller 102 controls the entire laser beam printer 100 and analyzes and develops drawing data supplied from the host computer, converts the developed data into a video signal, and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 103.

  The laser driver 103 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 104, and switches on / off the laser beam 105 emitted from the semiconductor laser 104 in accordance with the input video signal.

  The laser beam 105 is swung in the horizontal direction by the rotary polygon mirror 106 and scans the electrostatic drum 107. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image of a drawing pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 107. This latent image is developed by the developing unit 108 around the electrostatic drum 107 and then transferred to the recording paper.

  A cut sheet is used as the recording paper. That is, the cut sheet recording paper is stored in a paper cassette 109 mounted on the laser beam printer 100, taken into the apparatus by the paper feed roller 110 and the transport roller 111, and supplied to the electrostatic drum 107.

[System configuration]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the image output system according to the present invention.

  This image output system is configured by connecting a host computer 250 and an image output device 260 such as a laser beam printer via a bidirectional interface 270.

  The host computer 250 includes a control unit 251 that controls the host computer main body. The control unit 251 includes a CPU 1, a RAM 2, a ROM 3, a timer 4, a keyboard controller (KBC) 5, a display controller (DSPC) 6, a disk controller (DKC) 7, and an I / O controller (IOC) 8. .

  The CPU 1 executes a boot program, an application program, or the like stored in the ROM 3 or the external memory 12 and controls the devices connected to the system bus 9 in a comprehensive manner.

  The RAM 2 functions as a main memory and work area for the CPU 1. The keyboard controller 5 controls key input from the keyboard 10 or a pointing device (not shown). The display controller 6 controls display on a CRT display, a liquid crystal display, or the like 11. The disk controller 7 controls access to an external memory 12 such as a hard disk (HD) that can store a boot program, various application programs, font data, user files, a floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD), a flash PROM, and the like. .

  The I / O controller 8 is connected to the printer 260 via a predetermined bidirectional interface (hereinafter simply referred to as an interface) 270 and executes communication control with the printer 260. The I / O controller 8 is built in the control unit 251 in advance. It may be connected to the printer 260 via a device, or connected to the printer 260 via a device (not shown) connected to the bus slot (not shown) (for example, an ECP board, a network board, a network adapter, etc.) to control communication. May be executed. The I / O controller 8 includes an interface with the non-volatile storage medium 13 that can be inserted and removed while the host computer 250 is turned on, such as a USB memory, in addition to controlling communication with the printer 260. Can be controlled.

  The host computer 250 is a PC that is a non-volatile storage medium that can be inserted and removed from a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) card slot by a not-shown I / O controller while the power is on. It may be configured to control the card.

  On the other hand, the printer 260 includes a printer controller 261. The printer controller 261 controls the entire printer body, and further controls the entire printer including the duplex unit and analyzes and develops image information supplied from the host computer 250 when a duplex unit (not shown) is mounted. CPU21, RAM22, ROM23, NVRAM24, communication control unit 25, printing unit I / F 26, I / O controller (IOC) 28, and panel control unit 27 if a simple panel exists. Yes.

  The printer CPU 21 comprehensively controls access to the above various devices connected to the system bus 29 based on a control program stored in the ROM 23 and the like, to the engine controller 30 connected via the printing unit I / F 26. An image signal as output information is output. Further, when the ROM 23 has an operation unit (operation panel) 31, the panel control unit 27 having a device driver for controlling a switch, an LED display, an LCD as a message display device, etc. arranged on the operation panel 31 is used. Then, a program for receiving a key interrupt from the switch, controlling turning on / off / flashing of the LED, and displaying / changing a message character string on the LCD is stored.

  Further, the CPU 21 can perform communication processing with the host computer 250 via the communication control unit 25 and is configured to be able to notify the host computer 250 of information in the printer 260. The RAM 22 functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 21 and can be expanded in memory capacity by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). The NVRAM 24 is used for storing printer environment data and the like. The IOC 28 includes an I / F (USB interface, PCMCIA card slot, etc.) that communicates bidirectionally with an external storage medium. The IOC 28 can be inserted and removed while the printer 260 is turned on, and is a readable / writable nonvolatile storage medium 32 ( USB memory, PC card, etc.) can be controlled.

  Note that the configuration of the printer according to the present invention may be a configuration that further reduces costs by omitting the operation panel 31 or combining the CPU 21 and the ASIC, which are not so sophisticated. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the communication control unit 25 is not limited to the Centronics I / F but can be applied to the present invention even if it has a configuration capable of controlling USB, IEEE 1394, or various network protocols.

[Functional configuration of print control]
FIG. 5 is a functional configuration diagram of the present invention.

  When printing processing is performed according to the present invention, the following series of processing is performed in the printing system stored in the storage area (RAM 2 or external memory 12 in FIG. 2) of the host computer system (501, 502 or 503). .

  When a user prints from application software (520, 530, or 540) in any of the host computer systems, the user first issues a print instruction from a user interface (not shown) of the application software.

  In response to the print instruction, application software and a drawing processing unit (not shown) that operates in cooperation with the application generate drawing data, and the data generation unit (521, 531 or 541, also called a printer device driver) of the printing system software Transfer drawing data. The data generation unit that receives the drawing data converts the drawing data into drawing data that can be interpreted by a printing apparatus, and sends the drawing data to a system spool unit (522, 532, or 542) incorporated in an OS (operating system) of the host computer system. Drawing data (also referred to as a print job includes one or more page data.

  Usually, in the case of a plurality of pages, the pages are included in order from the first page to the last page). Note that the system spool unit (522, 532, or 542) when performing spooling processing in a network environment (connected by the network 500) is a system spooling unit of the same host computer system as the data generation unit of the printing system. In some cases, the system spool unit of both host computer systems may be used in cooperation with the system spool unit in another host computer system to be a print server.

  In each host computer system, for example, the name of a printing apparatus or network address connected to the network in advance, or the output destination where the network connection is established with the name or port name of the host computer serving as a print server, via the system spool unit Data is output.

  The print control unit 523, 533, or 543 is a part of the printing system of the present invention, obtains drawing data spooled by the system spool unit (also referred to as spool data), print control information in the spool data, and page unit In order to control the print job based on the drawing information of the printer, manage the printing device connected to the network, and execute the secure printing, a unique ID for identifying the print job is generated, or the generated unique ID is generated. Non-volatile storage attached to the host computer such as ID and user information included in the print job, host (computer) information, print document information, valid time information input by the user, time information acquired from the system of the host computer, etc. Write to media such as USB memory or PC card Ri, non-volatile storage medium in the printing apparatus from the printing apparatus 504, 505 or 506 or detects it is attached.

  The print control unit also has a function as a print server for managing the user name or host name of the spooled print job. After controlling various print jobs, the communication control unit ( 524, 534 or 544), the print job data can be transferred to the output destination to be transferred in page order, or a plurality of spool data from different host computers can be controlled and managed.

  Furthermore, it has means for displaying the print job information on the display (11 in FIG. 2) in a print status window (not shown) via the display control unit (525, 535, or 545) and notifying the user. . Note that data transfer from the print control unit to the printing apparatus (504, 505, or 506) is executed via a communication control unit (524, 534, or 544) having a port control program or the like.

  The printing apparatus 504, 505, or 506 receives print data received from the host computer system via the communication controller 550, 560, or 570 on the printer controller 510, 511, or 512 (printer controller 261 in FIG. 2, 102 in FIG. 1). Is temporarily stored in the RAM 22 of FIG. 2, and the print data is expanded into video data by the print control program stored in the ROM 23 or RAM 22 of FIG. 2 or an ASIC (not shown).

  Further, the developed data is an engine controller 513, 514, or 515 (control for charging, exposure, development, transfer, fixing, paper conveyance, etc., mainly related to an electrophotographic process or the like, or nozzle control and ink spray control. It is sent to the engine controller 30) in FIG. 2 and printing on the actual recording medium is completed.

  Note that the print control program stored in the ROM 23 or RAM 22 in FIG. 2 includes the presence / absence of a duplex unit in the printing apparatus, jam information, printing completion status, status information of the printing apparatus such as door open, and non-volatile in the printing apparatus. A function for notifying the host computer of the presence or absence of a storage medium, a unique ID for specifying a print job read from the attached non-volatile storage medium, information for specifying a host, time information, etc. to a host computer via a communication control unit In addition, it has a function of erasing information recorded on the attached non-volatile storage medium.

[Example 1]
The first embodiment having the above-described configuration is an example in which security printing is performed from the host computer 501 to the printing apparatus 504.

  When the user of the host computer 501 wants to perform secure printing, the user interface dialog of the application software is opened from the application software 520 installed in the host computer 501 and the setup dialog of the printing system is opened. .

  The setup dialog shown as an example in FIG. 3 can set various types of information to be notified to the data generation unit 521, the print control unit 523, or the connected printing apparatus 504, which are part of the printing system software. 2 is displayed using a display control function (display control unit 525) on the display 11 of FIG. The user of the host computer 501 can designate secure printing by checking (selecting) the “secure printing” check box in the setup dialog.

  When printing is instructed from the application user interface dialog opened by the application software 520, the application 520 sequentially outputs drawing data from the first page to the data generation unit 521, and the data generation unit 521 is designated in the setup dialog of the printing system. Information necessary for various types of printing such as “security printing” information and “paper” information is output to the system spool unit 522 in order from the first page as drawing data from the application as a print job (spooling). .

  When the print control unit 523 obtains a print job from the system spool unit 522, the print control unit 523 determines whether the print job is designated as secure print. If the print job is not designated as secure print, the print control unit 523 directly sends the print job from the host computer 501 to the printing apparatus 504. If the print is secure printing, the print job received by the system spool unit 522 is stored in the memory (RAM 2 or external memory 12 in FIG. 2) of the host computer and attached to the host computer. The security information is stored in the non-volatile storage medium (non-volatile storage medium 13 in FIG. 2).

  Hereinafter, a flow in the security printing preparation stage in the print control unit 523 will be described with reference to FIG. The program of the print control unit 523 in the printing system of the present invention acquires various print (control) information of the print job spooled in the system spool unit 522 (S900), and determines whether there is a designation for secure printing (S900). S901). If it is not secure printing, the print job is transferred to the printing apparatus 504 as normal printing and printing is performed (S908), and the processing is terminated. If it is secure printing, the IOC 8 of the host computer 501 (250 in FIG. 2) Then, it is checked whether or not the non-volatile storage medium 13 that can be inserted and removed is mounted while the host computer is turned on (S902).

  Here, if the non-volatile storage medium 13 is mounted, the print job is determined from, for example, the document name of the print job, the user information of the host computer, the host (computer) name, etc. in the print information input in S900. Is generated (S903). The unique ID may be a checksum combining the print information of the above example, or may be information generated from arbitrary set value information in the print job. Further, encryption may be performed by a known technique (S904).

  In step S905, the print job is set in a standby state. A spool management table shown in FIG. 7 is generated on the memory (the RAM 2 or the external memory 12 in FIG. 2), and the corresponding standby print job is stored. . The spool management table has information such as the name of the connected printing device, the local port name of the output destination, or the network path name, and standby job identification information indicating the presence or absence of a standby print job. In addition, the pointing address (a) for the print job 1 to be waited from the corresponding system spool unit is stored.

  Further, the unique ID generated in S903 is stored in the waiting print job 1. If the subsequent print job is also a security print, the head address of the subsequent standby print job 2 is stored in the address of the standby print job 1 (FIG. 7C) and the print job 2 In addition, a unique ID different from that of the print job 1 is stored.

  The print job in the standby state shown in FIG. 7 is an example, and is not limited to the paper information, resolution information, copy unit information, and copy number information, but is set and input using the above-described application user interface dialog or the setup dialog of the printing system. Any information that can be obtained may be stored, and any information that can be acquired from the host computer system may be stored.

  S906 is a step of writing the security information shown in FIG. 6 in the nonvolatile storage medium (13 in FIG. 2). The security information includes the unique ID generated in S903 and the host computer 501 that generated the unique ID. For example, user information and host computer information are written. However, the information is not particularly limited as long as the host computer can be specified.

  FIG. 8A shows an example in order to notify the user that preparation for security printing has been completed after waiting for a print job in S905 and writing security information to the nonvolatile storage medium in S906. Is displayed on the DISPLAY 11 in FIG. 2 via the display control unit 525 (S907). If it is not detected in S902 that the non-volatile storage medium is attached, a message shown in FIG. 8B is displayed and the process ends (S909). Note that after pressing the OK button in FIG. 8B, normal printing may be performed, or the corresponding print job may be deleted without printing.

  Next, a processing flow of the printing apparatus 504 when performing security printing according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  The program of the data analysis unit 551 stored in the memory (RAM 22 or ROM 23 of FIG. 2) of the printing apparatus 504 (260 of FIG. 2) in the printing system of the present invention is turned on to the IOC 28 of the printing apparatus 504. It is checked whether or not a non-volatile storage medium 32 (having the same I / F as the non-volatile storage medium 13 in FIG. 2) is attached (S1000). It is checked whether there is security information having a unique ID as shown in FIG. 6 in the attached nonvolatile storage medium 32 (S1001).

  If there is no unique ID, the process ends. If it exists, the host computer 501 is notified that a nonvolatile storage medium has been installed based on information for identifying the host computer in the security information (S1002). At the same time, a unique ID is transmitted (S1003).

  If a print job is received after sending the unique ID in S1003 (S1004), it cannot be determined whether the received print job is a standby print job by security printing or happens to be a normal print job. The unique ID variable area is secured (S1005), and printing is performed (S1006).

  After printing is completed in S1006, the unique ID stored in the nonvolatile storage medium sent in S1003 is compared with the unique ID added to the received job secured in S1005 (S1007). Since this means security printing, meaning that security printing itself has been completed, the security information in the non-volatile storage medium corresponding to the unique ID is deleted (S1008), and the process ends. If they do not match, it is normal printing, and the process is terminated as it is.

  Finally, a security printing flow in the print control unit 523 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The program of the print control unit 523 in the printing system of the present invention detects that a non-volatile storage medium is loaded in the printing apparatus 504 (S1100), and then acquires a unique ID from the printing apparatus 504 (S1101). Then, it is determined whether the unique ID acquired in S1101 matches the unique ID added to the standby print job shown in FIG. 7 as an example (S1102). If there is no print job that matches, the process ends. If the print job matches, for example, if the print job 1 matches the unique ID of print job 1 in FIG. 7, the print job 1 is sent to the printing apparatus 504 to perform print output ( In step S1103, when printing is completed, the print job 1 waiting is deleted from the memory (the RAM 2 in FIG. 2 or the external memory 12) (S1104).

  If there is a subsequent standby print job (print job 2) as shown in FIG. 7, for example, the head address of print job 2 is stored again in the job management address of the spool management table (FIG. 7B). ), The print job 1 that has been printed is deleted.

[Example 2]
The second embodiment of the present invention is an example in which a security print effective time is designated when performing secure printing from the host computer 501 to the printing apparatus 504.

  When the user of the host computer 501 wants to perform secure printing, the user interface dialog of the application software is opened from the application software 520 installed in the host computer 501 and the setup dialog of the printing system is opened. .

  The setup dialog shown as an example in FIG. 4 can set various types of information to be notified to the data generation unit 521, the print control unit 523, or the connected printing apparatus 504, which are part of the printing system software. 2 is displayed using a display control function (display control unit 525) on the display 11 of FIG. The user of the host computer 501 can designate the effective time of secure printing by checking (selecting) the “secure printing” check box in the setup dialog and setting the effective printing time.

  Hereinafter, the flow in the security printing preparation stage in the print control unit 523 will be described with reference to FIG. 12. The processing flow is time information and valid time between steps S906 and S907 in FIG. 9 of the first embodiment. Since the process is the same except that the writing process is added, the description of the step is omitted, and only S1207 is described.

  In S1207, the current time information managed by the timer (timer 4 in FIG. 2) of the host computer 501 as security information shown in FIG. 6 as an example of FIG. 6 for the nonvolatile storage medium (13 in FIG. 2), This is a step of writing the valid time information of the security printing designated by the user from the setup dialog shown in FIG.

  Next, the processing flow of the printing apparatus 504 is shown in FIG. 13. The processing flows S1300 to S1302 are the same as steps S1000 to S1002 of FIG.

  In step S1303, a unique ID, time information, and valid information are sent to the host computer 501 based on information identifying the host computer in the security information stored in the nonvolatile storage medium 32 attached to the printing apparatus 504 (260 in FIG. 2). This is a step of sending time information.

  S1304 is a step of determining whether or not there is a notification from the host computer 501 to delete the security information in the nonvolatile storage medium 32 attached to the printing apparatus 504 after sending the unique ID, time information, and valid time information. If it is determined by the host computer 501 that the valid period has expired and there is a deletion notification, the process proceeds to S1306, and the security information corresponding to the unique ID stored in the nonvolatile storage medium 32 attached to the printing apparatus 504 is deleted. On the other hand, if there is no notification to delete the security information in S1304, the print job is received from the host computer 501 because it is within the valid time. Since processes S1305, S1307, and S1308 after reception are the same as the processes of S1005, S1006, and S1007 in FIG. 10 of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  If the unique IDs match in S1308, the specific information of the host computer 501 including the unique ID and the security information including time information and valid time information are deleted from the nonvolatile storage medium 32 attached to the printing apparatus 504 (S1306). ) End the process.

  Finally, the security printing flow in the print control unit 523 will be described with reference to FIG. 14, but the processing of S1400 to S1402 is the same as the steps of S1100 to S1102 in FIG. This will be described from S1403.

  In step S1403, the time information and the valid time information sent from the printing apparatus 504 are acquired, and the valid time information is calculated by adding both pieces of information.

  S1404 is a step of acquiring current time information in the system managed by the timer of the host computer 501 (timer 4 in FIG. 2). In S1405, the time calculated in S1403 is the current time acquired in S1404. It is determined whether it falls within the time. If it is within the valid time, the standby print job is sent to the printing apparatus 504 and printing is completed (S1406). If the standby print job is deleted (S1407), the security printing is completed. If the time exceeds the valid time, the printing apparatus 504 is notified to delete the security information stored in the nonvolatile storage medium 32 attached to the printing apparatus 504 corresponding to the unique ID acquired in S1401. (S1408), security printing is stopped. In step S1407, the standby print job is deleted without being sent to the printing apparatus 504.

[Example 3]
In the printing control unit 523 of the printing system of the present invention, when security information is written to a nonvolatile storage medium attached to the host computer 501 (S906 in FIG. 9, S1206, S1207 in FIG. 12), the nonvolatile storage medium is stored in the host computer. When there are a plurality of I / Fs that can be mounted, it is possible to explicitly select a writing device in advance and write security information based on the selection information. In that case, for example, a “browser” button (not shown) may be set in the dialog of FIGS. 3 and 4 so that the device can be set.

[Example 4]
The configuration of the present invention is not applied only to a so-called single function printing apparatus having only a printer function as shown in FIG. 2, for example, a multi function having a copy function, a facsimile function, and further a scanner function. Needless to say, even a machine can be applied.

It is a schematic sectional drawing of the printing apparatus in the Example of this invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a host computer system and a printer system in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the print setup dialog of the printing system in Example 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the print setup dialog of the printing system in Example 2 of this invention. It is the schematic which shows an example of a function structure of the printing system in the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the information recorded on the non-volatile storage medium of the printing system in the Example of this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a standby print job according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the security printing dialog displayed in the Example of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating control for preparing security printing in a print control unit according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating security printing control in the printing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating security printing control in a printing control unit according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control which prepares the security printing in the printing control part in Example 2 of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating control of security printing in the printing apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows control of the security printing in the printing control part in Example 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1,21 CPU
2, 22 RAM
3, 33 ROM
4 Timer 5 Keyboard controller (KBC)
6 Display controller (DSPC)
7 Disk controller (DKC)
8 I / O controller (IOC)
13 Nonvolatile storage medium 24 NVRAM
25 Communication control unit 26 Printing unit I / F
27 Panel control unit 28 I / O controller (IOC)
32 Nonvolatile storage medium 250 Host computer 260 Image output device 270 Bidirectional interface

Claims (11)

The host computer system has means for generating a print job based on a drawing command from the application software and transferring the generated print job to the printing apparatus. The printing apparatus receives the print job from the host computer system as a printing apparatus. A printing system comprising means for temporarily securing in an internal storage area and then outputting image information generated based on the print job to an engine controller in the printing apparatus,
In the printing system for managing print jobs on the host side, the printing system is a non-volatile storage medium that is detachable and readable / writable while the host is powered on based on the print job acquired from the system spool unit Means for generating a unique ID for identifying the print job, and information for identifying the generated unique ID and the host that has generated the print job included in the job being printed are stored in the storage medium. A printing system that writes and adds the unique ID to the print job and does not send the print job to a printing apparatus in a standby state.   The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the unique ID and the information specifying the host are encrypted, added to the print job, and written to the storage medium.   The printing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the storage medium is explicitly specified from a device managed by a host computer, and the unique ID and information for specifying the host are written. The host computer system has means for generating a print job based on a drawing command from the application software and transferring the generated print job to the printing apparatus. The printing apparatus receives the print job from the host computer system as a printing apparatus. A printing system comprising means for temporarily securing in an internal storage area and then outputting image information generated based on the print job to an engine controller in the printing apparatus,
The printing system has an interface in the printing apparatus in which a nonvolatile storage medium that can be attached / detached and read / write can be mounted while the printing apparatus is powered on, and the nonvolatile storage medium is attached to the interface. Determining whether the unique ID or the encrypted unique ID exists, and specifying the specified ID based on information for specifying the host corresponding to the unique ID stored in the non-volatile storage medium when present 4. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system is notified that a non-volatile storage medium is attached to the host, and the unique ID is transmitted.   In the printing apparatus, when a unique ID for identifying the job is added to the print job received after sending the unique ID to the host, the unique ID is temporarily reserved and after the printing of the print job is completed, The unique ID sent to the host is compared with the unique ID temporarily secured from the print job, and when the two match, the host corresponding to the unique ID stored in the nonvolatile storage medium attached to the printing apparatus is specified. 5. The printing system according to claim 4, wherein information to be deleted is deleted. The host computer system has means for generating a print job based on a drawing command from the application software and transferring the generated print job to the printing apparatus. The printing apparatus receives the print job from the host computer system as a printing apparatus. A printing system comprising means for temporarily securing in an internal storage area and then outputting image information generated based on the print job to an engine controller in the printing apparatus,
In the printing system, a print control unit for managing print jobs on the host side detects that the non-volatile storage medium from the printing apparatus is mounted and uses the unique ID sent from the printing apparatus. Once acquired, the print job is sent to the printing apparatus for printing when the unique ID matches the unique ID added to the print job stored in the host in the standby state. The printing system according to claim 5, wherein the print job is deleted. The printing system according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 3,
A printing system, wherein a print control unit on a host side writes time information acquired from a host system and print valid time information included in a print job into a removable storage medium. The printing system according to claim 4,
The printing system of the printing system sends a unique ID to the specified host, and sends time information and print valid time information stored in a mounted non-volatile storage medium.   After sending the time information and print valid time information, when receiving a notification to delete the sent unique ID from the destination host, the unique ID stored in the nonvolatile storage medium attached to the printing apparatus, 9. The printing system according to claim 8, wherein the host specifying information, the time information, and the print valid time information corresponding to the unique ID are deleted. The printing system according to claim 6, comprising:
When the unique ID acquired from the printing device matches, the print control unit on the host side acquires time information and print effective time information from the printing device, and print effective by adding the print effective time information to the time information. A printing system that calculates time information and obtains the current time from a host system. The printing system according to claim 10, comprising:
The print control unit on the host side compares the calculated print valid time information with the current time acquired from the host system, and if the print valid time information exceeds the current time, the acquisition is performed. The unique ID and the information corresponding to the unique ID are notified to the printing apparatus so as to be deleted from the nonvolatile storage medium attached to the printing apparatus, and the print job in the standby state at the host corresponding to the acquired unique ID A printing system characterized by deleting.

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